An Oil and Gas operator, Mr Emeka Ene says connecting technically with professional bodies such as the International Gas Union (IGU) will drive gas innovation in Africa.

According to Ene, the Chairman, OIDA Group/NEDOGAS, the IGU represents the global gas value chain.

Ene and other operators spoke on Thursday in Abuja, at a session tagged: “Scaling Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Exports – The Road to Global Leadership” at the 2025 Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES).

The operators said there was the need to harness Africa’s vast gas resources to spur domestic utilisation and penetration to global markets.

The plenary highlighted the pivotal role of LNG and domestic gas solutions in unlocking Africa’s energy potential, fostering industrialisation and energy security.

“The professional body is an enabler of gas; it is all about knowledge dissemination and ensuring a robust industry for future sustainability. You cannot create a hub without having the interconnection

“We have established that on the African continent, we need to work as Africa. The professional bodies drive innovations, research and development ensuring that we achieve aspirations and break market barriers.

“The Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) and IGU help to promote and accelerate gas infrastructure. Where gas goes, light goes, where light goes, development follows,’’ Ene said.

Mr Kamoru Busari of Muskalam Investment Ltd. raised concerns over the complaint by the masses of not having access to gas.

He said the intent of the petroleum Industry Act (PIA) was to have an independent policy institutions and regulatory framework to tackle this.

“I was shocked that the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) that used to be the model complained of operating only two trains, I have known the NLNG to be operating six trains, hoping to add more.

“ Why are vandals rising to destroy pipes in the communities? Some host communities are clamouring that they have not seen any impact, there need to be a review of the PIA 2021.

“There is need to run an analysis of what went wrong, to strengthen the sector and change the narrative for good results,’’ he said.

He underscored the need to take the host community development aspect very seriously, adding that the ministry should intervene and imbibe continuous monitoring and evaluation.

In his remarks, Francis Ogaree, the Executive Director, Hydrocarbon Processing Plants, Installations and Transportation Infrastructure, Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) underscored the need for the operators to modernise processing plants.

Ogaree, while emphasising on enhancing reliability and safety plants, said there was the need to increase production efficiency and supply through automation and Artificial Intelligence.

According to him, delivering regional LNG hubs is necessary because gas has become the energy transition destination.

Mr Cheta Okwuosa, the Group Head, Business Development and Commercial, Oilserv Limited, advocated a level playing ground.

This he said could be achieved through strategic partnerships to be achieved through – technology transfer and expertise generation.

“Working in the LNG space we need to make it acceptable and attractive, funding available and ensure right policy implementation,’’ he said.

Mrs Florence Ilaka, the General Manager, Total energies, said there was the need to address the margins on the demand side in domestic market to deepen supply.

The panelists, however, underscored the need to foster African Atlantic Gas Pipeline, synergise regulations on the African continent for regulatory compliance to harness full potential of the natural resources for global market.

NAN gathered that the NLNG trains are available but the reality is that they are being threatened by insecurity and challenges due to activities of vandals. (NAN)